St. Patrick's Day in the Morning

March 17, 2010

Today's post is inspired by, of course, St. Patrick's Day, but also, by Booking Mama's Kid Connection feature on children's books. My mother keeps my children well supplied in books and especially well supplied in books that relate to holidays. Seriously, I could have a readathon for Valentine's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving - even Groundhog Day! So in honor of St. Patrick's Day, which also happens to be my mother's birthday, I thought I'd write about Eve Bunting's St. Patrick's Day in the Morning, which I read to my son last night in preparation for today.

This is a very sweet story and my 4 yo was rapt while I read it (and I even refrained from feigning an Irish accent). Bunting tells the story of Jamie, the youngest of three boys, who longs to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade up Acorn Hill. He's told that he's too young by his older brothers and his parents, but wakes up early on St. Patrick's Day morning and decides to undertake the hike, with his sheepdog by his side. The illustrations by Jan Brett are wonderful and they, along with Bunting's writing, reveal bits of Ireland that I remembered from my visits - the smoke rising from chimneys all day, every day and the beautiful rolling green landscape. I highly recommend this for reading aloud to your children today.

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Who is Book Club Girl?

Book Club Girl is: a member of a book club and an avid reader who spent most of her childhood immersed in a book, an English major who considered library school until she realized it was all about computers, so turned to publishing, where she now works (but she vows to talk about books from all over and not to simply flog those from her own house). She was single, lived in the city, met a man, moved to the 'burbs, and is now a wife, a stepmother, a mother, and in her spare time, a fledgling blogger dedicated to sharing great books, news and tips with book club girls everywhere.

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I review fiction and nonfiction that is appropriate for book clubs. This includes literary and some women's commercial fiction as well as memoir and narrative nonfiction. I do not review self-help, thrillers, mysteries, horror, or fantasy. I have a fondness for YA literature and while the blog is not devoted to it (well, except for my obsession with the Betsy-Tacy series), I will occasionally review some YA books. The best way to reach me to request a review is to email me at bookclubgirl AT gmail DOT com.